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Some suggestions for avoiding fiscal cliff

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Our nation’s fiscal road is rough enough without dealing with this artificially created “cliff.” Congress and President Barack Obama broke it; now they must fix it. We need a positive Christmas gift from Washington.

Advice from citizens to Congress and the president:

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Replace press-conference posturing with continued negotiations.

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Lock yourselves in a room until you reach agreement; we’ll send in food.

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Mutual finger-pointing solves nothing; consensus proposals can.

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The name in your oaths of office was Constitution, not Grover Norquist.

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Try this new pledge to the nation: Show the world this democracy can work.

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No one will get all he wants, but the nation must be served.

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Trust Warren Buffett’s judgment more than the House Budget Committee.

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Share the sacrifice, be role models: Cut congressional and administrative expenses by 10 percent.

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Begin revising Social Security by putting Congress on the plan

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Return to Simpson-Bowles for guidelines. We paid for it, so use it.

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Start a new “Hoover Commission” to begin fixing government. Don’t know of it? Read history.

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Every agency will try to justify its existence, mission and budget. Revise, consolidate, discontinue.

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Sunset all tax breaks, rejustify renewals. Next time the average wage earner might have one.

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Tax all income the same, an extension of the 14th Amendment.

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A tax code should be no more than 100 pages and be understandable by high-school grads.

Our nation has the need and the will. We expect our leaders to find the way.